New to casting, purchasing lead ingots for 9mm

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adrenaline681

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Hi everyone, I started reloading 1 month ago and after reloading 1200 rounds, even if its cheaper than buying factory ammo its still a bit expensive for me (0.18 cents per round). I've been thinking about casting to reduce the cost but i dont want to have to worry about finding and melting wheel weights etc. I rather spend a bit more and purchase ready to go lead ingots for my first castings.

I've read that Metalex is a good place to purchase lead ingots with different percentages of antimony, but im not really sure what % should i purchase for casting 9mm. Ive also read is good to mix in tin maybe from (Purity Alloy).

What percentages would you guys suggest me to buy and how much tin for reloading 9mm only.

Thanks!:d
 
Go for the free stuff. You would be surprised what floods in when you put the word out that you are looking for lead!

Tell them batteries aren't welcome. I got a lot of those until I put the word out not to bother.

I'm shooting 7% ant, 2% tin with out issues so far in 38SPL. OR so I think?

Wheel weights are pretty much the gold standard and run 2-5% ant as I understand things?

M
 
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Metal ax is expensive. A few years back the quoted me $1.38/lb plus tax. Also had to arrange pickup. They usually deal with industry not individuals.

EDIT. Never mind got the name mixed up with a place close to me.
 
yomomma said:
Metal ax is expensive. A few years back the quoted me $1.38/lb plus tax. Also had to arrange pickup. They usually deal with industry not individuals.

EDIT. Never mind got the name mixed up with a place close to me.
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For me even this price for pound of Lead would reduce my cost from 0.18 cents a round to 0.10 cents a round. :)
 
adrenaline681 said:
...I've read that Metalex is a good place to purchase lead ingots with different percentages of antimony, but im not really sure what % should i purchase for casting 9mm. Ive also read is good to mix in tin maybe from (Purity Alloy). What percentages would you guys suggest me to buy and how much tin for reloading 9mm only.

Thanks!:d
Click to expand...

Metalex sells 4% antimony lead that will be just about perfect for you. If you find that the mold doesn't fill out well you could add up to 2% tin. A short, fat bullet like 9mm should fill out well without added tin.

Preheating the mold and starting with the pot temperature a bit warmer (800F range) will usually get your mold filling well quite quickly. Many times what we think is a problem caused by lack of tin is actually a mold temperature issue.
 
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jethunter said:
Get the 4% antimony lead ingots from Metalex. That will be just about perfect for you.
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What about the Tin? How much should i add?


EDIT
I've read that 2% is good.
So if i purchase 60 pound ingot of 4% antimony and I add 1.25 pounds of tin. this will give me a percentage of Antimony 3.92% , Tin 2.04% and Lead 94%

Is this how it should be more or less?
 
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jethunter said:
Metalex sells 4% antimony lead that will be just about perfect for you. If you find that the mold doesn't fill out well you could add up to 2% tin. A short, fat bullet like 9mm should fill out well without added tin.

Preheating the mold and starting with the pot temperature a bit warmer (800F range) will usually get your mold filling well quite quickly. Many times what we think is a problem caused by lack of tin is actually a mold temperature issue.
Click to expand...

adrenaline681 said:
What about the Tin? How much should i add?
Click to expand...

see my first post. add enough to make the bullets fill out, if you need to. You can do that easily on the fly, no need to premix and waste expensive tin if you don't need it.

If you're in the Edmonton area I'm getting ready to order from Metalex very soon, I could order some for you at the same time if you want.
 
adrenaline681 said:
What about the Tin? How much should i add?


EDIT
I've read that 2% is good.
So if i purchase 60 pound ingot of 4% antimony and I add 1.25 pounds of tin. this will give me a percentage of Antimony 3.92% , Tin 2.04% and Lead 94%

Is this how it should be more or less?
Click to expand...

That will work very well and quite possibly you wouldn't need that much tin. I cast a lot of pistol bullets for myself that are 1/2% to 1% of tin.
 
jethunter said:
see my first post. add enough to make the bullets fill out, if you need to. You can do that easily on the fly, no need to premix and waste expensive tin if you don't need it.

If you're in the Edmonton area I'm getting ready to order from Metalex very soon, I could order some for you at the same time if you want.
Click to expand...

I live in vancouver, im planning on going to metalex to pick it up. this way i can save on shipping.
 
yomomma said:
Took me 1 hour to cut one up with a bow saw
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Ok, I didn't try a bow saw. My dry wall saw was doing something, but I figured it would take a week of 3 hour afternoons to reduce my 60lb pig to 10lb size chunks LOL. The axe and sledge was even worse.

You cut a 60 pounder up in an hours time? Cut it into how many pieces?

M
 
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